Negeri Sembilan

Negeri Sembilan is a unique among Malaysian states for its Adat Pepatih, a matrilineal social system which came together with the Minangkabau people from the Indonesian island of Sumatra who settled in the state.
The cultural heart of Minangkabau culture in Negeri Sembilan is the pretty royal town of Seri Menanti, about 50 km from the state capital, Seremban. Here, you will find a traditional timber palace. It was the residence of Negeri Sembilan’s ruler until 1992 when it was turned into the Royal Museum. It is a showcase of Minangkabau architecture and design, and it was built by two local crafts men in 1908. No screws or nails were used in its construction. Many houses in the vicinity of Seri Menanti adopt the distict feature of Minangkabau architecture-the curved roof which resembles the horns of the buffalo.
For more of the state’s history, you can head to the State Museum in Seremban which is also housed in a former palace, the Istana Ampang Tinggi. The Adat Museum in Rembau, 25km south of Seremban, contains a fascinating array of cultural artefacts from handcrafted antiques to community heirlooms. Further to the south is the Pangkalan Kempas Historical Complex. Its most fascinating feature is a group of stone megaliths which are referred to as batu hidup (living rocks). Villagers believe the rocks can grow and move on their own.

18. The second paragraph is about…
a. Seri Mananti
b. Negeri Sembilan
c. Traditional culture in Sumatra
d. Architectural building in Negeri Sembilan
e. Minangkabau palce in Negeri Sembilan

19. Where can visitors find batu hidup?
a. In the State Museum
b. In Pangkalan Kempas
c. In the Adat Museum
d. In Rembau
e. In the Istana Ampang Tinggi

20. Why can Minangkabau culture be found in Negeri Sembilan?
a. Minangkabau people adopt the culture
b. The resident line together with Minangkabau people
c. Minangkabau people inhabited the town
d. Many homes have the culture of Minangkabau
e. The Royal Museum has Minangkabau characteristics

Prague

       Is there any city in Europe, or else, like Prague? There has been a city here for over a thousand years, and now 2.250.000 people live here. It is most famous for its Gothic and Baroque building styles. Old Town Square, with its wonderful clock, the Charles Bridge, and Prague Castle on the hill above the river are just a few of Prague’s famous attractions.

       Getting around Prague is easy by tram or underground train but it’s also a pedestrian’s dream because much of the old quarter and many of the streets and lanes have little or no traffic. The medieval center is Prague castle and St Vitus Cathedral. An evening view of these illuminated landmarks is one of the most memorable sights in Europe. Wenceslas Square is in the heart of modern Prague.

       Visiting Prague today, you immediately notice the lively atmosphere. The city can be crowded during the hot summer months, but it is delight to visit any time of the year, even in the snowy cold of winter. In fact, tourism makes the largest contribution to Prague’s economy. Classical concerts take place all through the year, though the biggest event is the Prague Spring International Music Festival in May and early June. Theatre also has a special place in the life of the city.

         The suburbs are like many in Eastern Europe with tall sky crappers and some light industry, but you are very quickly in the sleepy villages and gentle hills of Bohemia. Many people say Prague reminds them of Vienna or Budapest. But in fact, Prague is unique. There’s nowhere quite like it.

 

1.      The purpose of the text is …….

a.       to inform people about Prague’s beauty

b.       to tell people about the history of Prague

c.       to present people about the events in Prague

d.       to describe the city of Prague and its uniqueness

e.       to persuade

 

2.      An evening view of these illuminated landmarks ………..

The underlined word means ……..

a.       full of colors

b.       full of buildings

c.       full of memories

d.       full of illusion

e.       full of lights

 

3.      The text organization/generic structure for this text consists of ……..

a.       general classification – description

b.       identification – explanation

c.       orientation – events – reorientation

d.       identification – description

e.       general classification – events

 

4.      The text above belongs to ……..

a.       Recount

b.       Narrative

c.       Explanation

d.       Discussion

e.       Description

 

5.      The text tells us about ………

a.       Europe

b.       Gothic building

c.       Charles Bridge

d.       Prague Castle

e.       Prague

 

Sawahlunto

ONE DAY CITY TOUR OF SAWAHLUNTO

 

Sawahlunto is about 94 km from Padang, 38 km from Batu Sangkar or 137 km from Bukit Tinggi. If you want to go to Sawahlunto, you can start from any of these three places and take a bus, a taxi or join a trip arranged by a travel agency. If you start from Padang, you can get to Sawahlunto in two hours.

If you take a bus from Padang, you will have to pay Rp8.0000. A taxi will cost you Rp. 200.000. If you join a trip, you will have to pay the travel agency Rp 20.000.

At present, The Tourism, Art, and Culture office of Sawahlunto municipality prepares a tourist package called “One day City Tour of sawahlunto”. If you take this package, you will be taken around the town on a tourist train, locally known as dressing, or a tourist bus.

A tourist train is available every day at Sawahlunto station. It starts at 10.00 a.m. and will take you to Muara Kalaban station, which is about 5 km away. This tourist train can accommodate a maximum of 12 passengers and the return fare is Rp. 75.000.

On the way, you can see the tower of the old electric power plant and will be plunged into darkness as you enter the 900-meter-long tunnel.

If you wish to travel by bus, you can charter a tourist bus. It is big enough for 25 people and the charter fee is Rp.250.000 The bus will take you around the old town, visit the living museum, the former open mining pit, and the location of Ombilin Mines Training College (OMTC) and the grave of Prof M.Yamin in Talawi.

When you visit OMTC, you will get information about mining activities through a simulation system of underground mining. You can also visit the geological museum and a coal mining laboratory.

At the end of your tour, you can buy local handicrafts as souvenirs.

 

1. What is the purpose of the text?

A.   To persuade readers to visit Sawahlunto

B.   To describe about a  one day tour of  Sawahlunto

C.   To present some point of view about Sawahlunto

D.   To inform some interesting places in Sawahlunto

E.   To amuse readers with a one day tour of Sawahlunto

 

2. The main idea of paragraph six is ……..

A.   You can visit the location of OMTC

B.   The bus is big enough for 25 people

C.   You can visit the graves of some heroes

D.   The bus will take the visitors to the location of OMTC

E.   There is a tourist bus available to travel to Sawahlunto

 

3. Which statement is TRUE according to the text?

A.   Sawahlunto is located in Padang

B.   The visitors will pay less if they take a taxi from Padang

C.   A tourist train is available at Sawahlunto station everyday

D.   Information about the heroes’ graves can be got from OMTC

E.   Taking a tourists bus will be cheaper than taking a tourist train

 

4. “…….. you can charter a tourist bus” ( Paragraph 6).

   The synonym of the underlined word is ……..

A.   buy

B.   hire

C.   ride

D.   borrow

E.   exchange

 

5. What is the genre of the text?

       A.  descriptive

       B.  narrative

       C.  anecdote

       D.  news item

       E.  procedure

 

Lyme Regis

           Lyme Regis is a beautiful old seaside town, with a lively little harbour, beaches, and lovely walks, either by the sea or in the country nearby. For children there is the Marine Aquarium and Dinosaur land, and in summer you can escape from the crowds and relax in the Jane Austen Gardens with beautiful views over the sea. There are many interesting old streets with cafes and restaurants. The best restaurant is the Pilot Boat down by the beach, which has very good food and excellent wine.

 

1. The purpose of the text is ……

A.   to describe Lyme Regis is

B.   to describe the way people live

C.   to describe how big Lyme Regis is

D.   to inform some beautiful places

E.   to amuse readers with a beautiful object

 

2. Many tourists are interested in coming to Lyme Regis. This means that Lyme Regis      is …….

A.   amazing

B.   excellent

C.   attractive

D.   delightful

E.   advantageous

 

3. “….. and in summer you can escape from the crowds…..”

    The underlined phrase means ……

A.   find

B.   keep

C.   loose

D.   avoid

E.   release

 

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, the students are not always able to answer questions about their country. Although Hong Kong is their country, they have had little opportunity to go on excursions. Most of them cannot afford the time or money needed for such trips. Since, they do not know much about Hong Kong’s history and its culture, they have always had to write to the Hong Kong Tourist Association for information.

        To give such students sound knowledge about Hong Kong, The Tourist Association decided to start the student ambassador programme. The programme has been carried out for eight years. Young men and women who are going overseas for further studies are selected to undergo a special course dealing with the history, culture and lifestyle of Hong Kong.

        Through visits factories, government departments and other places of interest, the young people receive ample information which will enable them to answer a wide range of questions asked by persons abroad.

 

1. By reading the text we conclude that it tells about …..

A.   the students’ limited knowledge about their own country

B.   the Hong Kong Tourist Association

C.   the students ambassador programme

D.   the places of interest in Hong Kong

E.   young men and women who are going overseas

 

2. The underlined word in paragraph 2 means ………..

A.   deep

B.   voice

C.   useful

D.   thorough

E.   prosperous 

 

Floating market

The market is called a floating market because the trade takes place on boats – in Indonesia, they are called klotok and jukung. This market has existed for over 400 years. In the past, people from inland areas brought their agricultural produce or handicrafts to sell. They bartered with people from the coastal areas. Nowadays, people can buy things such as fruit, vegetables, traditional cakes and even clothes from this ‘pasar terapung’. Another unique feature of these markets is the time of trading. It begins around 5 a.m. and finishes at 9a.m.

 

1. The paragraph mainly talks about …….

1. handicraft
2. cakes and cuisine
3. floating market
4. agricultural product
5. unique features of the markets

 

2. “They bartered with people from the coastal areas”

     The underlined word means ……

1. sold something for money
2.  exchange goods for other goods
3. sold their belongings to buy something
4.  bought something by using money
5. Tried to buy something without money

 

Shangri-La Bangkok

            On the banks of the Chao Phraya, Bangkok’s “River of Kings”, lies a hotel that has already set new standards of hospitality for this celebrated city. Set in magnificently landscaped tropical gardens, the Shangri-La Bangkok provides guests with all the charm and warmth of the Orient and, at the same time, and unsurpassed range of facilities and leisure activities. There is a choice of 12 superb settings in which to wine and dine, a large free-form swimming pool that overlooks the river, convention and meeting facilities for up to 2,000 people and a 24-hour business center. And, every single guestroom and suite, there is a breathtaking view of all the exotic hustle and bustle of the fabled “River of Kings”. One might expect such a well-equipped and positioned hotel to be miles away from the city centre, but at the Shangri-La Bangkok the business district and main shopping areas are mere minutes away. For more than 2000 years, bangkok’s grandeur has been reflected in the waters of the Chao Phraya. Today, the Shangri-La Bangkok towers beside this majestic river, offers its guests the golden promise of the East.

 

1. The text mainly focuses on ….

a.       Bangkok’s grandeur

b.       Shangri-La Bangkok

c.       Bangkok’s River Kings

d.       The water of the Chao Phraya

e.       The majestic river in Bangkok

 

2. Which statement is true?

a.       Shangri-La Bangkok is set exclusively

b.       Shangri-La Bangkok is far from business area

c.       The large swimming pool overlooks the mountainous area

d.       The convention and the meeting facilities can occupy more than 2000 people

e.       The tower beside the majestic river offers its guests the silver promise of the east

 

3. The communicative purpose of the text is ….

a.       to describe Chao Phraya

b.       to retell events for entertainment

c.       to tell the luxury of Shangri-La Bangkok

d.       to present at least two points of view about an issue

e.       to inform readers, listeners, or viewers about events of the day

 

4. In the second paragraph, the writer describes ….

a.       the location of Shangri-La

b.       the golden promise of the East

c.       the reflection of Bangkok’s grandeur

d.       the parts, the qualities and characteristics of Shangri-La

e.       the distance of Shangri-La Bangkok to business district

 

5. The underlined word in paragraph means …..

a.       flow

b.       current

c.       steam

d.       movement

e.       water-course

 

 

Singapore

Singapore is a city state; it is a city but it is also a state. It is a republic. Along with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Brunei, it belongs to ASEAN, the Association of South-East Asian Nations.

Like Indonesia, Singapore is a country of “Bhineka Tunggal Ika”. Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians make up its citizens. Other Asians, including Indonesians, Japanese, Philippines, Koreans, Thais and Arabs also live on that tiny island. Singapore is sometimes called “Instant Asia” because you can see varieties of customs, cultures, and foods of nearly all Asia in Singapore.

 

 1.  The text mainly talks about Singapore as ….

a.       a nation

b.       an island

c.       a republic

d.       a city state

e.       a member of ASEAN

 

 2. Singapore’s citizen consists of …..

a.       Brunei, Indians

b.       Chinese, Malays, Indians, and Eurasians

c.       Chinese, Thais and Arab

d.       Eurasians and Philippines

e.       Asians and Arabs

 

 3.  “….. Koreans, Thais and Arabs live on that tiny island.” (Paragraph 2) 

      The underlined word may be replaced by “very ….”

a.       cute

b.       huge

c.       small

d.       broad

e.       narrow

 

Roman

With its famous Roman baths, its eighteenth century architecture, and its many museums, bath is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. It also has a large number of interesting shops and street markets, excellent hotels, cafes and many good restaurants.

         In the summer there are lots of places to eat outside. You can enjoy walking around the small streets, or you cab see the city from the water, with a boat cruise on the river Avon. But don’t take your car into the city center-parking, that is impossible in Summer.

 

1. The purpose of the text is …..

a.       to inform about a place

b.       to describe a particular place

c.       to tell how wonderful something is

d.       to share amusing story to readers

e.       to amuse readers with a beautiful object

 

2. Bath is very ……..

a.       annoying

b.       miserable

c.       wonderful

d.       uninteresting

e.       advantageous

 

3. ” ……. From the water, with a boat cruise

   on the river Avon.” (paragraph 2). The underlined word means ……

a.       trip

b.       liner

c.       drive

d.       travel

e.       enjoyment

 

Paris

Paris is the capital of a European nation, France. It is also on of the most beautiful and famous cities in the world.

         Paris is called the City of Light. It is also an international fashion center. What stylish women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world. Paris is also famous for its world center of education. For instance, it is the headquarters of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

         The Seine River divides the city into two parts. Thirty-two bridges cross this scenic river. The oldest and perhaps the most well known in Pont Neuf was built in the sixteenth century. Sorbonne, a famous university, is located on the left bank (south side) of the river. The beautiful white church Sacre Coeur lies on the top of a hill called Montmartre on the right bank (north side) of the Seine.

         There are many other famous places in Paris, such as the famous museum the Louvre as well the cathedral of Notre Dame. However, the most famous landmark in this city must be the Eiffel Tower.

         Paris is named after a group of people called Parisii. They built a small village on an island in the middle of the Seine River about two thousand years ago. This island is called Ile de la Cite. It is where Notre Dame located. Today around eight million people live in the Paris area.

 

1. The fifth paragraph tells …….

  a.       about Paris

  b.       the origin of the word Paris

  c.       the location of Notre Dame

  d.       a village built thousand years ago

  e.       an island in the middle of the seine River

                                                    

2.  What is the oldest and most well known part of the city?

  a.       The seine river

  b.       The Pont Neuf

  c.       The Sorbonne

  d.       The right bank

  e.       The left bank

 

3.  From the text, we know that Notre Dame is located …..

  a.       on the left bank

  b.       near the Louvre

  c.       on the right bank

  d.       outside the city of Paris

  e.       in the middle of the seine River